Adjustable high chair



R. H. THATCHER ADJUSTABLE HIGH CHAIR Oct. 12, 1954 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 10, 1951 Fill 17/ Ph HAIL TIIJTC/IER /NVNTOR 6x674 ATTORNEY Oct.12, 1954 R. H. THATCHER ADJUSTABLE HIGH CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 10, 1951 Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNI T ED S TAT'ES PATENT TQF'FFICE ADJUSTABLE HIGH "CHAIR Ralph Thatcher, Sacramento, Calif.

Application March 10, 1951,.SerialINO. 214,867

2'0 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in adjustable highchairs.

More particularly, 'the'invention relates to. high chairs provided witha rigid frame and a seat mounted on said frame, with the foctrest, backrest and arm rests being adjustably interrelated so as toaccommodate-the growth of infants over a period .of time and also to.accommodate infants of various .sizes, as in a restaurant. Theadjustment of .the movable members is made simultaneously and by asinglemeans.

The construction of the high .chair which is thesu'bj-ec't of the.presentinvention is such'that by a single, simple adjustment, theelevation of the'footrest, the distancebetween the front edge .of theseat and theiback rest, and the elevation of the arm rests above thelevel of the seat are all simultaneously adjusted in a definite relamentwill not be'hindered by a sense of physical discomfort or instability.LI'hus the use of cushions and books which have frequently been employedto adapt conventional chairs to children of different sizes areeliminated, therebyelimimating thedanger or d i'splacementof such com-:pen'sating devices and removing the feeling of discomfort andinstability which accompany the use thereof.

It is an important object of the present invention to prov-ideanadjustable chair employing a singlemeans for simultaneously adjustingthe position of th'e back rest, *the foot rest, and the arm rests 'ofthe chair in such manner as to quickly, safely and comfortablyaccommodate an occupant through a wide range of ages and sizes.

It .is also an object of the invention :to provide a highchairwherein'all adjustments required 5 to seat anyone of a number ofchildren of different sizes properly and-comfortably are provided in asingle adjustingmeans.

It is a further object of the invention to'pro- "vi-dean adjustablehighchair for children which can easily :be cleaned and which can be readilyconstructed and formed :of 'comparatively :inexpensive amaterials, :suchas tubular parts.

It is another object of the instant inventionto provide "an adjustablechair of modern,

streamlined appearance, attractive, artistic design, and light weighttubular metal construction, which also incorporates a simplifiedadjusting mechanism to automatically make all chair adjustments'requiredto correctly seat occupants of diiferen't sizes.

It is also an .object of the present invention to provide an "adjustablehigh chair "for rapidly growing children which does. not require the useof pillows or'other compensating devices to accommodate the growth ofthe child andto make the occupant comfortable and secure to the extentrequired to encourage a "general psychological improvement in'theattitude of the child toward meals.

'It is another .object of this invention to .pro-

'vide an adjustable highchair for children which is particularlysuitedto' the requirements of public restaurants.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant inventionwill'become apparent from reading ofthe following description of theinvention and reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the .high chair which is the subject ofthis invention illustrating vthe maximum and minimum adjustmentpositions, the solidlines showing the position of the componentp-arts inposition for the'largest child andthedottedllines showing theposition-of such parts for the smallest child;

leg portion H and I2, respectively, and a crown shaped, upper, 'arcuateportion l3 therebetween.

Said members "IO are maintained in predetermined and spaced relationshipby upper transverse rods M and i5 which-extend through holes drilled inthe upper arcuate portion I3-of "memibers IO, andby' lower transverserods l6 and I! which extend through similar holes drilled in :therespective front andrear leg portions H and [2. The ends I!) of saidrods are secured by cap screws, bolts or other convenient means to framemembers Ill.

Upper rods M and I5 support seat Hi thereupon at a convenient heightabove floor level which will enable the chair to be used alongsidetables of conventional height. It will be understood, however, that achair of different height may be employed. Seat I8 is made of anysuitable material and may be made of canvas or other fabric loopedaround rods I l and IE. If desired, the lower ends of frame It may besupported on casters for convenient movement. It will further beunderstood that the ends of the frame members flare outwardly to makethe chair stable and resist tendency to tip over.

Pivotally supported on rear rod l? for free turning movement about ahorizontal axis are two parallel spaced levers 2 I, each having a freearm adapted to swing through a predetermined arcuate section 2'! of thefront leg portion 1 i of the frame. Affixed to and carried by the freearm 22 of each lever 25 is a footrest 23 having a bottom 2% of sumcientwidth and depth to comfortably accommodate the feet of the occupant. Thetop of the footrest may be arcuate in cross-section so as to provide afirm rest for the feet in any position of adjustment. Side portions 25are secured extending upwardly to arm 22 by suitable screws. Alsosecured to levers 2| in a position behind foot rest 23 and at a shorterradius than the footrest from the axis of rod H is a horizontallydisposed adjusting rod or bar 26 which functions as an actuating meansfor simultaneously making all chair adjustments in a manner hereinaftermore fully described.

A pair of aligned and spaced horizontal rods 23 is supported by andbeneath footrest 23 for free sliding lateral movement. Each has an outerend 3! which is adapted to project through a hole 32 drilled in the freeend of each lever 21. Thus, the free end 3! of each rod 28 is adapted tobe slidably supported by lever 2i in such a manner as to effect aselective locking engagement with the plurality of cooperating holes 33disposed at convenient intervals along the arcuate adjustment section 2!of each frame member It, the holes 33 being equidistantly spaced anddisposed along an are which has the rod H as its center. The inner ends3% of rod 28 are slidably supported by spaced bracket members 34 whichare secured to the bottom of footrest 23. Brackets 34 and holes 32 forminner and outer bearing surfaces for sliding rods 28. Actuating handles35 are secured to each of the inner ends 39 of rods 28 and extenddownwardly therefrom. Between brackets 34 and a washer 50 secured torods 23 is compression spring 35 supported laterally on each of the rodsconcentric with the axis thereof. One end of spring 36 is maintained inpressing engagement with coacting bracket 34 and the other end 39presses against washer 5i to exert a pressure tending to extend each rod23 outwardly. It will be observed that theouter ends 3! are continuouslyurged in looking engagement with cooperating holes 33 formed inadjustmentsection 21. It is, of course, understood that variousconventional arrangements for adjustably clamping and securing arms 22of levers 2! to the frame members it may be employed without departingfrom the scope of the instant invention.

Adjustably supported above the seat i8 is a pair arm rests 31, each ofwhich has front and rear pivotal connections 38 and 48, respectively. Avertically disposed and suitably formed back rest 4! is supported on andbetween rests 31 at the rear end thereof and adjacent the rear pivotalconnection 45. Between the spaced frame members H3 and in a verticalplane substantially at right angles thereto, is a U-shaped rear tubularmember 42 which is supported by rear rod 15 for free pivotal movementabout the horizontal axis of said rod. This tubular member 42 has anarcuate central portion 4% extending downwardly from horizontal rod l5and also has oppositely disposed side portions 43 extending upwardlytherefrom, the latter being adapted to provide pivotal support for theback and arm rests at 40, the points of connection therewith. In similarmanner, a U-shaped front tubular member t5, supported for pivotalmovement about horizontal rod Hi as an axis, has an arcuate centralportion 'll of greater depth than the central portion 46 of the member52, and also has upwardly projecting side portions 45 which arepivotally attached at the upper connections 38 to the forward ends ofarm rests 3?. The arcuate central portion 4? of the front tubular member45 extends downwardly below the level of the spacing rod or bar 26carried by levers 2|, and the arcuate portion has a pair of oppositelyplaced elongated slots 48 formed therein to receive and permit limitedslidable engagement with spac ing rod 26, the slots 58 being ofsufficient length to permit free sliding movement of rod 26 throughoutthe normal range of adjustment of the chair. Spacing rod 26 slidablyengages with oblong slots 48 of front tubular member 45 in such manneras to impart a predetermined angular displacement of member 45 inaccordance with the relative adjustment of footrest 23 with respect tothe floor level.

It will thus be seen that each arm rest 37, each side portion 43, eachend portion it of the U- shaped pivoted lever or linkage member 55 andeach upper arcuate portion is of the frame IQ comprises a parallellinkage arrangement which is adapted to automatically adjust theposition of the back and arm rest in a manner which is directly relatedto the position of footrest 23 with respect to seat it. All of theadjustable parts are interrelated in such manner that the adjustmentsfollow the normal growth development of a child.

Operation In operation, adjusting handles 35 of the chair are firstmoved inwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 4., by imparting amanual squeezing action thereto so as to compress springs 36, therebydisengaging the outer end portion 3! of rods 28 from locking engagementwith holes 33 formed in front legs H of frame Hi. The position offootrest 23 is then raised or lowered with respect to seat It to theposition desired for correct posture and comfort for the occupant.Adjustment in the position of the footrest 23 effects a predeterminedrelative angular displacement of levers 2i and the spacing rod 26carried thereby. Thus, the footrest 23 and rod 25 follow an arcuate pathwith rod H as its axis. After the adjusting movement of footrest 23 hasbeen completed, handles 35 are released so that the laterally outwardresilient pressure exerted by coiled springs 36 will move end portions31 of rods 28 into locking engagement with a new set of horizontallyaligned holes 33 disposed along the inner faces of front legs of framesIii. Since spacing rod 28 carried by lever 21 extends through showninsolid lines to that shown in broken lines. Simultaneously andautomatically, the back rest 99 and arms I will be moved forwardly andbackwardly to provide a seat of convenient depth in relation to thelevel of the footrest. When proper adjustment has been made, the pins 83will be released to engage the selected holes 84 and latch the footrest,back and arms in selected position.

It will therefore be apparent to those skilled in the art that there hasbeen provided a high chair of artistic design and simplified tubularconstruction wherein a quick and easily performed adjustment of theposition of the footrest automatically imparts a predeterminedadjustment of the back and arm rests to correctly and comfortably seatany one of a number of occupants'of different ages and sizes. It willalso be apparent that there has been produced an adjustable high chairwhich can be easily cleaned and which employs a simplified adjustingmechanism which is particularly adapted to simultaneously andautomatically make all adjustments of the chair components required tocorrectly and comfortably accommodate occupants of different sizes.There has also been provided an adjustable chair which does not requirethe use of pillows or other auxiliary devices to comfortably and safelyseat a growing child throughout the period of most rapid growth. Therelationship between the position of the footrest, the height of thearms above the seat, and the position of the backrest, at any adjustedposition is carefully balanced and calculated to give correct postureand maximum comfort. This relationship may be varied in the firstinstance by changing the distance between the rods l4 and IS in thestructure of Figs. 1 to 4, and by making similar adjustments in thestructures of Figs. 5 and 6.

Although the foregoing invention has been illustrated and described inconsiderable detail and in several modifications, it will be understoodthat changes may be made in the structure without departing from thespirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable high chair comprising, a rigid frame, a seat fixed tosaid frame, supporting means for the back and arms of the occupant, atleast four levers each pivotally connected to said supporting means andto said frame providing for movement of said supporting means forwardlyand rearwardly with respect to said seat and adjusting the distance ofthe back support from the forward edge of said seat, the two forwardmostof said levers being formed with downwardly extending projections, afootrest, second means articulately connecting said footrest with thelower ends of the projections of said two forwardmost levers on oppositesides of the chair so that raising of said footrest moves saidsupporting means forwardly, and third means selectively adjusting theposition of said footrest relative to said frame.

2. An adjustable high chair comprising, a rigid frame, a seat fixed tosaid frame, supporting means for the back and arms of the occupant,second means mounting said supporting means on said frame above saidseat and providing for movement of said supporting means forwardly andrearwardly with respect to said seat, said second means having a firstpoint of pivotal connection with said frame adjacent the upper end ofsaid frame, a footrest, third means mounting said footrest on said framefor raising and lowering movement, said third means having a secondpoint of connection with said footrest, and fourth means operativelyconnecting said supporting means and footrest for moving said supportingmeans forwardly when said footrest is raised and moving said supportingmeans rearwardly when said footrest is lowered, said fourth means beingoperative to decrease the distance between said first point and saidsecond point as said footrest is raised.

3. A chair according to claim 2 in which said supporting means comprisesa substantially vertical back and a pair of substantially horizontal armrests on opposite sides of said chair, said back and arm rests beingoperatively connected so that as said back is moved rearwardly said armrests are simultaneously elevated.

4. A chair according to claim 2 in which said third means comprises apair of first levers each pivoted to said frame at the back thereof andfixed to said footrest at the front of said chair and in which saidfourth means comprises second levers each having a connection with oneof said first levers and pivotally connected to said supporting meansand to said frame.

5. A chair according to claim 2 in which said third means comprisessleeves slidable on said frame in a fixed path, in which said fourthmeans comprises a pair of levers on opposite sides of said chair fixedon one end to said footrest and pivotally connected at their oppositeends to said frame.

6. A chair of the character described comprising a frame for supportingthe chair, a seat fixed to the upper end of said frame, a back rest, afootrest, parallelogram means pivotally mounting the back rest on theupper end of said frame for forward and rearward movement to adjust theeffective depth of said seat, and linkage means pivotally connectingsaid footrest with said back rest, said linkage means being operable,when said footrest is raised or lowered, to move said back restforwardly or rearwardly, respectively, said linkage means being arrangedto shorten the distance between the point of pivotal connection of saidparallelogram means to said frame and the point of pivotal connection ofsaid linkage means and said footrest as said footrest is raised.

'7. In an adjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frameforming the four legs of said chair, a seat supported on said frame, afootrest, means pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said frame andarticulately connected to said footrest and adapted to move saidfootrest in an arcuate path, means for adjustably securing said footrestto the front legs of said frame at predetermined positions, below theseat of said chair, a back and arm rest adjustably supported above theseat of said chair by a parallel linkage arrangement, and means forautomatically adjusting said parallel linkage arrangement in accordancewith the position of said footrest with respect to said seat of saidchair.

8. In an adjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frameforming the four legs of said chair, a footrest and locking meanstherefor, means pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said frame andarticulately connected to said footrest and adapted to move saidfootrest in a vertical plane along a predetermined circular arc, meansfor adjustably locking said footrest to the front legs of said frame atpredetermined positions along said circular are, a seat supported bysaid frame, back and arm supporting means iadiustably supported abovesaid seat by a parallel linking arran ement, and linka e means :resnemsire to {the position of .said footrest along said rarer-or actuatingthe said parallel linka e -;ar a'angement.

:9. In an adjustable chair, a frame forming the four legs of said chair,a foot supporting jmeans .adiustably supported below the seat of saidchair and pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said frame for movementalong an arcuate path, means for securing said foot supporting means tothe vfront legs .of said frame at a plurality .of positions along saidarcuate .path, a seat :supported .by .said frame, a .pair .of adjustablearm rests and a back rest therebetween supported :above said .seat :by.a parallel :linkage arrange- .ment, and linkage means foractuating-said parallel linkage arrangement in such a manner that saidback and-arm .rests haveat .all times .a predetermined relationship to:the position .of said footrest along said arcuate path. I 1:0..In anadjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frame forming thetour legs .of said chair, a footrest, an adj-ustablesupporting meanspivotally mounted on :the back legs .of said frame adapted to move saidfootrest along anarcua-te path and in juxtaposition with a predeterminedportion of the front legs of said frame, means for adjustably securingthe-said :footrest to said frame :at a plurality of positions along said-arcuate path, a seat supported by said frame, a pair of spaced armrests and-a back rest therebetween adjustably supported above said seatby a parallel linkage arrangement,and .a slotted linkage mechanismadapted to automatically impart an adjusting movement to said parallellinkage arrangement having at all times a predetermined relationship tothe position of said footrest with respect to said seat.

11. In an;adjustable highchair having a seat and a single footrestadjusting means adapted to automatically readjust the position of thearm and back rests in relation to said seat, the combination whichcomprises, a 'footrest, a pair of parallel and spaced levers pivotallysupported on the frame of said chair and adapted to 'ad justably supportsaid footrest for movement in an arcuate path and contiguous with apredetermined portion of the frame of said chair, a means for adjustablysecuring said footrest to said frame at predetermined intervals alongsaid arcuate path, a pair of horizontally disposed arm rests and a backrest therebetween adjustably supported above said seat by a parallellinkage arrangement, and a slotted linkage mechanism adapted to impartand adjusting movement to said linkage arrangement having at all times apredetermined relationship to the position of said footrest along saidarcuate path.

12. In an adjustable chair having tubular front and rear leg members anda seat supported thereby, the combination which comprises, a footrest,means pivotally mounted on the rear legs of said chair and articulatelyconnected to said footrest, readily releasable means adapted to securesaid footrest in locking engagement with said front leg members atpredetermined positions on said front legs, a pair of spaced apart armrests and a back rest therebetween adjustably supported above said seatof said chair by a parallel linkage arrangement, and a slotted linkagemechanism adapted to automatically impart an adjustable movement to saidparallel linkage arrangement having at all times a pre- -1i) determinedrelationship to .the position -,of said footrest.

,13,. high chair of the character described, comprising, legs forsupporting said chair, ,a .seat sfi-xed to the :upper .ends of saidlegs, a vback rest, parallelogram means mounting said back rest -.0n theupper-ends of said legs for movement for- Wardly and rearwardly, saidparallelogram means including parallel links pivotally connecting .saidebackrestrwi-th the legs at the rear of said chair, and ,parallelleverseach pivotally connected to said back rest and fulcrummed on the framestructure at the front of said chair and extendingbel-ow thezupper endof said legs, a footrest, and parallel operating levers fixed at theirouter ends to zopposite ends to the rear legs of said chair. andarticulateli connectedyiminediate their ends of ,said footrest :and attheir inner ends to the lower ends of :said first-mentioned j levers.

.14.- A hi h chair of the chara ter described, comprising, legs forsupporting said chair, :a seat fixed .to the upper ends of said legs, aback rest, parallelogram means mounting said back rest ion :the upperends of jSaid .legs for movement forwardlyiand rearwardly, saidparallelo am means including parallel links pivotally connectin :Saidback rest with said legs at the rear of said chair, andaparallelleverseach pivotally connected to said :back rest and fulcrummed on the legstructure at the front of said chair and extending :below the, upper endof said legs, a footrestand parallel operating levers pivotallyconnected at their outer ends to opposite ends .of .said 'footrest, sandtoggle means-connecting .the inner ends .of said operating "levers .tothe lower ends :of said zfirst-mentioned levers.

:15. A :high :chair .of-the character described, comprising, a :pair ofparallel, spaced, tubular frame members in the form of inverted .Uisproviding front and rear legs and a pair 10f spaced, parallel,horizontal members at .the upper .ends ,cf said legs, a fixedseatmounted ion and extending between said horizontal members, a back.rest and forwardly extending arm rests on opposite sides thereof, .afootrest, spaced parallel links pivotally :connedtingsaid back rest andarm irests to the rear legs of said chair, spaced parallel leverspivotally connected at their upper end to the foreward portions of saidarm rests, means pivotally mounting said levers on said horizontalmembers to provide fulcrums for said lovers, the lower ends of saidlevers extending below said fulcrums, a pair of spaced paralleloperating levers fixed to opposite ends of said footrest, said operatinglevers curving upwardly and inwardly from said footrest, and toggleconnections between the inner ends of said operating levers and thelower ends of said first-mentioned levers.

16. A high chair of the character described, comprising, spaced,parallel tubular members in the form of inverted Us providing front andrear legs and spaced, horizontal members, at the upper ends of saidlegs, a fixed seat mounted on and extending between said horizontalmembers, a back rest and arm rests, a footrest, parallel links pivotallyconnecting said back rest with said horizontal members at the rear ofsaid chair, parallel levers fulcrummed on said horizontal membersforwardly of said links, extending therebelow and thereabove, andpivotally connected at their upper ends to said arm rests,'and paralleloperating levers fulcrummed at their inner ends on the rear legs of saidchair, pivotally and slidably connected at their mid-portions to thelower ends of said first-mentioned levers and fixed to their outer endsto opposite ends of said footrest.

17. A high chair of the character described, comprising, a continuouslength of tubing bent to form spaced, parallel, inverted Us to providefront and rear legs for the chair and horizontal members at the upperends of said legs, a fixed seat mounted on and extending between saidhorizontal members, a back rest and arm rests, a footrest, parallellinks pivotally connecting said back rest with said horizontal membersat the rear of said chair, parallel levers fulcrummed on said horizontalmembers forwardly of said links, extending therebelow and thereabove,and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the arm rests, andparallel operating levers fulcrummed at their inner ends on the rearlegs of said chair, pivotally and slidably connected at theirmidportions to the lower ends of said first-mentioned levers and fixedat their outer ends to opposite ends of said footrest.

18. An adjustable chair of the character described, comprising a rigidframe supporting said chair, a generally horizontal seat mounted on saidframe, a back rest, first means mounting said back rest on said framefor substantially hori zontal movement above the level of said seat,said first means having a first point of pivotal connection with saidframe adjacent the upper end of said frame, a footrest, second meansmounting said footrest on said frame for substantially vertical movementrelative to said frame, said second means having a second point ofconnection with said footrest, and third means for operativelyconnecting said first means and said second means below said first pointto move said backrest and footrest in unison, said third means beingoperative to decrease the distance between said first point and secondpoint as said footrest is raised so that said footrest moves upwardly assaid backrest moves forwardly and said footrest moves downwardly as saidbackrest moves rearwardly.

19. An adjustable high chair comprising, a rigid frame, a seat fixed tosaid frame, supporting first means for the back of the occupant, at

least three links each pivotally connected to said supporting means andto said frame providing for movement of said first means forwardly andrearwardly and adjusting the distance of the back support from theforward edge of said seat, two of said links being positioned in anopposed pair, one on each side of said chair, each link of said opposedpair having a downward extension, a footrest, and second meansarticulately connecting said footrest with said downward extensions,said second means including connections with said footrest, said secondmeans being connected to said downward extensions and said footrest toshorten the distance between the points of connection of said secondmeans with said footrest and the points of connection of said opposedlinks with said frame as said footrest is raised and to move saiddownward extensions rearwardly and said first means forwardly as saidfootrest is raised.

20. In an adjustable chair, the combination which comprises, a frameforming the legs of said chair, a seat supported on said frame, afootrest, means mounted on said frame and connected to said footrest andadapted to move said footrest in a path of varying elevation relative tosaid frame, means for adjustably securing said footrest to said frame ata plurality of positions relative to said seat of said chair, a backrestsupported substantially vertically above said seat of said chair, saidseat and backrest being adjustable relative to each other in asubstantially horizontal direction, and means for automaticallyadjusting said backrest and seat relative to one another in a horizontaldirection in accordance with the position of said footrest with respectto said seat of said chair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 116,784 Wilson July 4, 1871 155,366 Curry Sept. 29, 1874579,499 Shapira Mar. 23, 1897 1,156,725 Turner Oct. 12, 1915

